[AI Revolution](178)GPT Handles Sales, AI Runs Hotels... Travel Platform 'Tripbitoz'

Next-Generation Video-Centric OTA
Targeting the Millennial, Gen Z, and Influencer Ecosystem
AI Handles Hotel Partnerships, Operations, and Management

On the 24th of last month, Jiha Jung, CEO of Tripvitos, was interviewed by The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Yujin Park

"At first glance, online travel agencies (OTAs) may appear to be in the travel business, but in reality, they are closer to massive financial companies. The essence of competitiveness lies in how efficiently you manage the cash flow that exists between booking and settlement. We are now redesigning this structure with artificial intelligence (AI)."

Jiha Jung, who founded Tripbitoz ten years ago, summarized the company's core strategy in this way. A former Expedia executive, he weathered industry upheavals such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tmon-Wemakeprice incident, holding onto the two words "survival and efficiency." In that process, he implemented large language models (LLMs) like GPT and Gemini across the organization. Jung said, "AI is not a tool for workforce reduction; rather, it's a productivity lever that enables small teams to play on a global stage."

Tripbitoz’s “AI-driven organization” goes far beyond simple automation. By deploying LLMs across most back-office processes-including email, reporting, data analysis, and decision support-the company has dramatically reduced work hours. Although the headcount decreased, the transaction volume grew from 125 billion won to 180 billion won. He emphasized, "With AI replacing tasks previously done manually, the speed, accuracy, and cost structure have completely transformed. There is likely no other OTA in Korea operating at this pace."

According to Tripbitoz, video-based booking conversion rates are 120% higher compared to photos, indicating that AI and content-based models are reshaping travel consumption led by Millennials & Gen Z and influencers. Photo shows the Tripbitoz application feed. Image courtesy of Tripbitoz

He also stressed that Tripbitoz’s content strategy is fundamentally different from traditional OTAs. Unlike existing platforms that focus on search and photos, Tripbitoz positioned itself as a "video-based OTA" from the very beginning. According to the company’s accumulated data, video-based booking conversion rates are 120% higher than those based on photos. He explained, "Travel content is ultimately experience-based, but photos have limitations in terms of information. Millennials & Gen Z are inspired by influencer videos and make travel choices accordingly. We designed our service with this trend at the center from the start."

'AI Smart Report' that calculates hotel prices and room occupancy rates in real time. Image courtesy of Tripvitoz

The area where Tripbitoz is currently investing the most effort is AI for hotel partners. The "AI Smart Report" analyzes hotel room occupancy, competitor pricing, seasonality, and event data in real time to suggest optimal rates. It goes beyond simple price recommendations, automatically generating detection of key performance indicator (KPI) anomalies and proposing strategic cards to support hotel managers' decision-making. The company has a roadmap to apply AI to the entire partner process-from hotel onboarding to operations, performance management, and growth.

Jung described this AI system as "an engine that enables independent hotel operations." Small and medium-sized hotels face severe staffing shortages, and developing pricing strategies or forecasting demand is not easy. When AI takes over these tasks, operating costs decrease and profits rise. The company is also expanding AI-powered automation to hotel front desks, housekeeping, and concierge services, broadening its reach into digital concierge and automated customer service. This AI transformation model is designed to achieve unmanned operations, cost reduction, and advertising revenue generation simultaneously.

The global expansion strategy is also centered on AI. Tripbitoz analyzes sales data from emerging markets such as Indonesia and Africa using AI to read market timing, while Sales GPT automates much of partner discovery and communication. In parallel, the company is expanding its hotel API (B2B) business, aiming to become the largest accommodation B2B player in East Asia.

Jung noted, "Most OTAs are stuck in commission and advertising cost competition, but we are fundamentally restructuring our operations with AI." At the end of the interview, he added, "Travel is ultimately about human emotions and experiences, but the mechanical aspects of delivering and connecting those experiences faster and more accurately are where AI excels. A new era of OTAs is coming, where content moves, data responds, and prices adjust automatically."